PROJECT SOCRATES; Improving Introductory Physics Education Through Interactive Engagement

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The Indiana University SOCRATES PROJECT is contributing to a critically needed national improvement in university introductory physics education through research on and development of interactive engagement methods for cost- effective mastery learning. In particular, this project is further developing, improving, and promulgating the Socratic Dialogue Inducing (SDI) Lab method which has been shown to be effective in promoting student crossover to the Newtonian World. The focus is on mechanics and related areas (fluid statics and dynamics, oscillations, and waves). The testing ground is the Indiana University Physics Department's General Physics I, a large-enrollment, non-calculus based course for science (but not physics) majors (including prospective high- and middle-school teachers). "Real-world" in-class investigation, well-controlled out-of-class research with paid student subjects, and in-depth case studies are being utilized. The goals sought are to (1) improve and systematize the Socratic-dialogue and SDI lab techniques; (2) collaborate with other instructors to modify the SDI method for various instructional settings; (3) improve and extend the laboratory modules and instructor's guides; (4) more widely disseminate the method by means of publications, talks, workshops, and distribution of videotapes and lab modules; and (5) continue the construction of computer Force-Motion-Vector Animations to assist laboratory and lecture instruction.***//